The Crawford County herald. (Knoxville, Crawford Co., Ga.) 1890-189?, December 19, 1890, Image 2

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SHELL MONEY. Conchological Currency Circu¬ lates Even Now. Cowry, Clam and Abalone Shells Largely Employed. Shell fish have from time immemor¬ ial contributed enormously to the wealth of the world. Not merely have they given up to man pearls of price, as well as the material of their own dwellings for ornamental purposes, but they have supplied him for centur¬ ies with ail the money he needed to apend. Before gold, silver and copper came into use as a medium of exchange shell money was used for the same purposes all over the world. To this day it is employed as cash to an enor¬ mous extent in southern Asia, the islands of the Indian and South Pacific oceans and in runny parts of Africa. In these regions the “cowry shell” is the ono chiefly employed, for the roason that it is of convenient size and the natural supply of it is limited, so that no one cowry shell may be con¬ sidered to represent a definite amount of labor in the process of finding, and there is no material chance of a sudden inflation of the currency by the dis¬ covery of a great deposit of cowries. One hundred cowries are worth two cents, and strings of them arc receiva¬ ble where they are current for mer¬ chandise, labor or anything purchasa¬ ble. One can build a house for instance, worth $2000 and discharge the expense with 10,000,000 cowries. For purposes of trade in the Indo- Pncific and Africa vast quantities of cowries are imported to England, whence they are carried by merchants for use in barter. On the we9t coa6t of Africa a you ng wife can be bought for 60.000 cowries, equal to $12, while an ordinary wife not guaranteed as to y outh may be had for 20,000 cowries. In the Soudan there is no other currency in use. The late firm of GodefFroy & Co., Hamburg, was accustomed to send each year fourteen ▼csscls to Zanzibar for cargoes of cow¬ ries with which cargoes of palm oil and other products were purchased on the west coast of Africa. Cowries were formerly largely used in the pur¬ chase of slaves. The main source of supply of this species of shell is the Maldivo and Laccadive Islands, in the Arabian sea. Before tho s ttlemcnt of America by the whites, and for a long time after, shells were exclusively used for finoncy by the Indians, mostly under the name of “wampum.” which con¬ sisted of disks and pieces in other shapes cut out of shells of various kinds. One of the shells most com¬ monly used for this purpose was the common round or “qua ang” clam. About half an inch of the inside of the shell is of a purple color, and this the Indians used to break off and con¬ vert into beads. Cash in the eariy days of this country’s settlement was chiefly, apart from tl.e shell money employed in trade with the natives, beaver skins, beads and musket balls. The island of Conanicnt in Narra- gansett Way was originally sold to the whites for one hundred pounds of wampum. Wampum was originally worth $2.50 a fathom, strung on or¬ dinary twine, but enterprising mer- cants in New York, then New Am- stcidain, set to work to make it by machinery, the result being a great depreciation in this sort of currency. The California Indians were ne¬ vus omed to nia mfacture large quanti¬ ties of wampum, to lake the plate of the constant was ago caused bv their custom of burying big sums of shell money with every one of impor ancc Who died. In the.r country $100 worth of shell money would buy two very desirable wives. Periwinkles were largely used for money by the Indians. The sort of greatest value, however, was the abalone of the Pacific coast, which was worth as much as $10 and $15 a shell. One of the flat pari of the shell were taken round $1 pieces, and where tiie curve uas sharper, twenty-five-ccnt pieces. 'Ihc beauty of these shells is much appreciated at this day, anti in those limes a tin? one was considered a fair equivalent for a horse. — [ tVa-liington Post. Groin is now stored in steel tanks. The Paper Fruit Basket. The H tle village of Cbarlestowm, Md., has the distinction of containing a manufactory whose counterpart doe* not exist in the world, This is the factory for the making of paper fruit- baskets, which is the only one of the the kind in existence. The plant was built and is owned by the American Strawboard Company who manufac¬ ture a basket from straw-hoards, with a wooden top-hoop and a wooden in¬ side bottom-hoop, the article being handsome in shape, st>ong and welj ventilated, of the standard size of fruit and produce baskets. The main building is 156 feet long and 50 feet wide,two stories,with iron roof and sides. A building 50 by 100 feet is devoted to the water-proofing process, while a third, 20 by 30 feet, also of iron and brick, is a chemical stock-ioom. An additional building, 200 by 50 feet, will probably be erect¬ ed at an early day for storage pur¬ poses. All the work is done by ma¬ chinery, which has been adapted to the requirements, and patented, much in¬ genuity having been exercised in per¬ fecting the various devices. The first story of the main building receives the straw-board and witnesses the earlier processes, such as the cut¬ ting and crimping of bottoms, the stamping out and perforating of the bodies, the cutting of paper hoops, which are of three sizes, and the -aw¬ ing, steaming, pointing and shaping of the wooden boons for top and bot¬ tom. The second story is filled with light machines, adjusted to a nicety, which arc run by boys, where the baskets are sewn together, the hoops, bottoms and forms being fastened, when the mill is at full capacity, at the r te of more than 1,000 an hour. The water-proofing is the last process, and so perfectly done that the basket will stand immersion for 24 hours without damage, being stronger after ten minutes’ exposure to the air than it was before.—[Paper World. Travel in China. Travel in Northern China is accom¬ plished in a cart, a mule litter, or the saddle. The first met hod is the most uncomfortable but the most rapid, the second the most comfortable but the slowest, the third the most independ¬ ent but the most uncertain. The cart used in Northern China has two hgavy wheels, with wooden axle, no springs, and a body about four feet long and three broad, over which is a light frame-work top cov¬ ered with blue cotton. The mules driven tandem by a carter sealed on the left shaft take it along at a rate of about three miles an hour, and one can make in it an average of thirtv- live miles a day, even over the rough¬ est country. It will carry about three hundred pounds of goods, and one or even two passengers; and tlie tighier one is squeezed in the move comfort¬ able it will p ove, for that, and that alone, will be a protection from the terrible jolting over the rough country roads. It is told in some old b oks of travel in the narrative of the mission of Lord Amherst to the court of Peking, if I remember rightly, that one of his attendants died from the effects of the jolting he received during a short jour¬ ney in one of these carts. But this mode of travel being the most rapid, l adopted it. Several years of exper¬ ience of cart travel in China had made be bold, so that I did not fear the fate of t e Amherst mission mail. Com- f rtubly wrapped in iny wadded Chinese clothes, I squeezed myself in¬ to my cart feeling like a delicate piece of china ware packed in cotton, and after a hearty fa ewe'l to the friends with whom I was staying at Pek¬ ing, the carters cracked their whips, and wiih a sh ut to the mules we were off.—[C ntirry. Removes Ink from the Fingers. It is not generally known that ink stains can readily be removed from the fingers with the head of a par or match. A book-keeper in a Wall Street banking honsj is 6i*id to have made the discovery. Mois eu the ink- stained spot and rub it gently with the head of the loa ch, keeping the skin wet so that it will not be burned. The 'tain rapidly disappears. The match should not be used where there is a cut. Violet ink stains can often be removed b. rubbing tit m with a rough woolen cloth. A coat si eve answers very well.— [New York Times. FACTS FOR THE SICK! A Letter from an Eminent Di¬ vine in Regard to the Best Medicine in the World. Read. Wonderful Cures. Atlanta. Ga., January 2, 1890. Six months ago, at the request of a friend who was interested in the sale of Ring's Royal Germetuer, I made a writ- teu statement of the benefits I had re¬ ceived from the use of that medicine. In that statement I expressed the belief that it would cure mo entirely of catarrh. Within the last two months I have re¬ ceived letters from every quarter of the nation calling on me for further informa¬ tion in regard to my health. It has been impossible for me to write privately to each person who has made this request, aud I am therefore under the necessity cf making another public catarrh. statement. believe that I am free from I l could get a certificate to this «Sect from any competent physician. I have used no medicine within the >ast six montns except King’s Royal Germetuer. My health is better tb .n it has been in thirty years. I um iu possession of information which warrants me in saying that the re¬ lief which I have experienced from the use of the medicine is not more certain and radical than that which it has brought to hundreds o. persons in Geor¬ gia aud other States. I feel it to be my duty to say, also, that the effects of this remedy upon my wife have been even more signal and wonder¬ ful. She has been almost a life-long in¬ valid from Nervous Headache, Neuralgia aud Rheumatism. In a period of thirty years she has scarcely had a day’s exemp¬ tion from pain. She has been using Ger- meteur about two months. A more com¬ plete transformation I have never wit¬ nessed. Every symptom of disease has disappeared. She appears to be twenty years younger, and is as happy and play- ful as a healthy child. We nave persua- r ded many of our friends to take the med¬ icine, and the testimony of all of them is that it is a great remedy. J. B. Hawthorne. Pastor First Baptist ( hurch. Royal Germeteur builds up from the k !rst dose, the patient quickly feeling its invigorating aud health-giving influence. It increases the appetite, aids digestion, the liver, clears the complexion, regulates kidneys, etc., and speedily brings bloom to the cheek, strength to the body and joy to the heart. For weak and debili¬ tated females it is without a rival or a peer. If suffering with disease and you arc fail of a certificates, cure, send stamp for printed matter, etc. * For sale by the King’s Royal Germe¬ teur Compauy, 14 N. Broad street, At¬ lanta, Ga., a d by druggists. Price $1.50 per concentrated bottle, which makes one gallon of medicine as per di- rcetions accompanying each botile. Can oe sent by express C. O. D. if your drug- gift cannot supply you. lY FORTUNES FOR MANY. Allen, the blacksmith, is now a mil¬ lionaire through replying to an advertise¬ ment of unclaimed estates. &c., &c.— Times , London , March 1st, 1888. If your ancestors came from the old c untry, write to The European Claims Agency, 59 Pearl street and 24 Stone street, New York city, inclosing 25 cents for reply, and learn if you are an heir to any of the unclaimed estates there, worth more than half a billion dollars, that rightly belong, chiefly, to American ue- scendaats of Europeans who came to America years ago. If your ancestors came over more than fi ty years ago, there is a probability that you are heir to a fortuue. Ot THE GEORGIA ALLIANCE RECORD Is a large 8-page weekly devoted to Alliance news, agriculture, horticulture, 'lock raising, literary and Address general news. Send for a sample copy. ALLIANCE RECORD, 4t Montezuma, Ga. J. 1. BL4S1SGM, —DEALER IN— DRY GOODS, Groceries aod Hardware. V full line of HARDWARE am CRO KERY. Quality of all Good; Guaranteed and Prices as low as the low < st. 1 a so sell the famous NEW HOSE AND LOVE SEWING ISUCHINES. Buy from me, and thus save th< A cuts’ enormous commission, vt ill • « fiver Machine anywhere within ten mile> of Knoxville. You can have ample tim< to try me. S .tisfaction guaranteed or n t»«y- CALL AND SEE ME. J. W. BLASINGAME Kuoxvillo, On. 1AB1IS01, SAVD1B8 & DRY GOODS, NOTIONS, GRo c J IEse, HARDWAR^CORN.FLoo J IIAY,OATIS,BHAN ANDPl a tation supplies WE HAVE A COMPLETE SUPPLY OF Ladies’ Dress Goods, Hos and Millinery, Agr icultural invitation Implements,! to all, and J We extend a cordial tha especially, to call and examine our stock. IE THE TO m K Our Prices will Compete with Macon & Atlai MUSELLA, GA. FINE MILLINER My Stock of FALL MILLINERY is now beautiful, and will soon be coi I have a nice line of NOTIONS at the low st prices. My Stock of GLASSWARE, CLOCKS AND JEWELRY Are remarkably cheap, and if you see them, you will be compelled to buy. DRESS-MAKING A SPECIALTY, And all pains taken, and every effort made to give satisfaction. For convcui some of my customers, I will have a full 1 >t of MILLINERY, NOTIONS,! the depot by the 15th. I cordially invite all the ladies to call and see my Sta 6m MRS. Mi B. PIER Ui J.H. NOLAN & BR( Have On Hand the Largest and Most Select Stock of FURNITUR EVER BROUGHT TO KNOXVILLE. Comprising a Complete Line of Choice Goods: Bed Room Seta, Parlor Sets. Chai Rockers, &c. You cau find goods in fGFIAR OAK AND WAIN® wardrobes dining safes, cupboards, etc. ' Springs, lounges room keep on hand a full line of handsome coffins, burial cases and undertakers Call and examine our stock before you purchase elsewhere. KN r OXVJI H I$, G$Of(GlI& MILTON J. MOOR DEALER IN DRY GOODS, GROCERIES, HARDW Patent Medicines, Notions, El I am prepared to sell Com, Oats, Meat, Bran md all kinds of Family' tation Supplies. I have on hand the largest and complet st stock of P 1 I Clothing, B ots Shots, Hats, China and Glassware ever seen in this marke I Fannin Basils, Cans, Bossies, Hi Etc. I make a specialty of the celebrated Baroesville buggies, which I tory price*. I defy competition either in quality or price. CERES. - GEORGIA. __ subscribe for This Pap Srwfui mt tlMtn* ntiltlf far now is tTie Turn & tw# *hu *«‘ 1 «~n* i.a jwmr «u b^ rt»n.»* IT WILL PAY YO